Private Ralph C. Linenstruth (Linn)
Ralph registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, when he was about 28. On December 24, 1943, he enlisted into the Army in Cleveland. He had gone to high school and then was employed full time as a machinist.
His assignment was to the 175th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division. It wasn't long before he found himself in the Battle of Normandy and then to northwest France.
On August 11, 1944, the day of his death, his unit crossed the Loire River in France. The Germans were in what they called, Operation Luttrich, a code name for their counterattacks and attempts at taking back areas they had lost earlier.
The Allies were closing in on them, and Hitler's military leaders wanted to leave.
Hitler, however, would not hear of it and ordered the German troops to stay and fight till death, if necessary. The fighting was severe, and the Allies were able to circle around the Germans. (Hitler did not know that some of his officers had defied him and evacuated across the Seine where they would meet the Canadian troops.)
It was in this battle in France that Private Linenstruth lost his life. His hospital admission card noted that he was hit in the back with a bullet, killed in action.
Ralph C. Linenstruth was a challenge to research in many ways. First, we found that he and some of his family used the last name, Linn, only discovered by finally locating his obituary.
His obituary appeared with the photo above in The Cleveland Press, December 7, 1944:
"PVT. RALPH C. LINN
Pvt. Ralph C. Linn (Linenstruth) was killed in France on Aug. 11. He was the son of Mrs. Irma Linenstruth and the husband of Helen, Chardon.
In service since Jan. 13,1944, Pvt. Linn, 32, was trained at Camp Blanding, Fla. and sent overseas in July. He last wrote home on August 6 and told of participating in action on the drive to Paris.
A graduate of Shaw High School, Pvt. Linn worked at the Cleveland Tractor Company before entering service. He is survived by his mother, his wife, and his brother, Pvt. Floyd W. Linn, stationed at Fort Dix, N.J."
He was temporarily buried in France and returned home to be permanently interred. The Cleveland Press announced on December 10, 1948, that 23 war dead were being returned from Europe on the Army transport, James E. Robinson, among them,Ralph C. Linenstruth.
In the Plain Dealer (Cleveland) on January 12, 1949, his funeral was announced:
"LINENSTRUTH, (LYNN) PVT. RALPH C., son of Mrs. Irma Linenstruth; brother of Floyd of Columbus, O.; on August 12, 1944 at St. Lo, France. Friends may call at Charles Melbourne & Sons Colonial Home, 12777 Euclid Ave. after 7 p.m. Wednesday. Services Thursday Jan. 13 at 1 p.m."
His burial took place in Bedford Cemetery, Cuyahoga County, and his name appears on a monument at the Lake View Cemetery called "Geauga County Servicemen."
The last big mystery was his connection to Defiance County and the reason his name was on the memorial here. He appeared regularly on the Defiance County Casualty Lists.
On honorstates. org, his Purple Heart was noted as a soldier from Defiance County.
| This Profile ID | 513870 |
| Service ID | 35924875 |
| Name | Ralph C Linenstruth |
| From | Defiance County, Ohio |
| War | World War II |
| Service Branch | Army |
| Rank | Private |
| Casualty Type | KIA - Killed in Action |
| Notable Awards | ★ Purple Heart |
If anyone can help with this question, we would appreciate a solution! Please comment!
Dianne Kline, Researcher
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